Ski towing apparatus



Nov. 28, 1939.

M. PAQUETTE SKI TOWING APPARATUS Filed 0%.. 15, 1958 Patented Nov. 28, 1939 umrso STATES 2,181,519 SKI TOWING APPARATUS Moise Paquette, Ste. Agatha des Monts, Quebec, Canada Application October 13, 1938, Serial No. 234,837

6 Claims. (Cl. 104-178) low cost.

Still another object of the invention is to provide towing mechanism of the aforesaid character which is eflicient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description prograsses.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters are employed to designate correspond- 1 ing parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the apparatus in assembled arrangement for towing skiers up a hill,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the lower portion of the apparatus,

Figure 3 is a similar view of the upper portion of the apparatus,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism, and

Figure 6 is a rear end view of the same.

Referring to the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper portion of the apparatus, that is, that portion at the top of a hill embodies an upstanding support standard ID in the form of a vertically anchored post rigidly braced by an inclined brace bar II. To an eye i2 on the post I!) is connected one end of a block and tackle mechanism l3, of the conventional chain hoist type, disposed so that its opposite end connects with an eye on the end L5 of a U-shaped pulley bracket M which rotatably supports a grooved pulley l5. To the outward extension of the pulley bracket I4 is connected a automobile chassis and particularly such as has outlived its usefulness as a vehicle. The chassis frame, indicated at F, is horizontally supported upon posts 20 anchored in the ground. On the outer or rear end of the frame is mounted a shaft 2|, in the form of a solid axle, having grooved pulley wheels 22 and 23 fixed on the ends and arranged in a vertical plane. On the intermediate portion of the shaft 2| is secured a drive gear 24 in mesh with a pinion 25 fixed on a drive shaft 26. Thedrive shaft 26 may correspond to the vehicle propeller shaft and connects with the engine generally indicated at E through the usual transmission and clutch mechanism. On the chassis frame F, adjacent the pulleys 22 and 23, are rotatably mounted a pair of idler pulleys 21 and 28 arranged in a plane inclined from the horizontal, as shown at Figures 5 and 6, and having an auxiliary loop of the tow-rope, indicated at L, trained thereover. This arrangement enables the training of the tow-rope so that the take-off portion or reach, indicated at T, is driven from the top of the drive pulley 23 while the opposite return reach, indicated at R, comes onto the bottom of the opposite complementary drive pulley 22.

This formation of the drive mechanism acts to effectively space the opposite sections or reaches of the tow-rope vertically and laterally, the upper towing reach being arranged uppermost, as shown at Figure 1. The bottom return portion or reach of the rope is guided on vertically arranged pulleys 30 journalled on gudgeons mounted in the upper portion of a plurality of spaced posts 3|.

This apparatus provides efficient means for towing or pulling skiers up a hill inclination on or adjacent to a skiing slide. Its relatively simple construction and the provision of means for utilising a relatively inexpensive powerunit enables erection and'operation at a comparatively low cost. The block and tackle mechanism connecting the upper pulley with its supporting post also enables adjustment so that the rope may be made suitably taut while in use and loosened when the apparatus is inoperative.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement clination, a pulley adapted to be supported at an upper part of the inclination, a pair of transversely spaced drive pulleys secured on a common drive shaft at a lower position of the inclination, a pair of idler pulleys angularly supported adjacent the drive pulleys, an endless rope trained over the upper pulley, the drive and idler pulleys so as to horizontally space the reaches of the towing apparatus, and means for rotating the said drive shaft and pulleys.

2. In apparatus for towing skiers up an inclination, a support member at an elevated position on the inclination, a pulley attached to the said support member, an endless rope trained over the said pulley, a drive shaft mounted horizontally at a lower elevation of the inclination, a pair of drive pulleysfixed on the drive shaft in spaced positions, a pair of idler pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent the drive pulleys, the said idler pulleys being disposed so that the endless rope may be trained in such manner that the towing reach will take-off from the top of one drive pulley while the return reach will engage the opposite drive pulley at the bottom thereof, and means for rotating the drive shaft.

3. In apparatus for towing skiers up an inclination, a supportmember at an elevated positionon the inclination, a pulley attached to the said support member, an endless rope trained over the said pulley, a drive shaft mounted horizontally at a lower elevation of the inclination, a pair of drive pulleys fixed on the drive shaft in spaced positions, a pair of idler pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent the drive pulleys, the said idler pulleys being disposed so that the endless rope may be trained in such manner that the towing reach will take-off from the top 'of one drive pulley while the return reach will engage the opposite drive pulley at the bottom thereof, means for rotating the drive shaft, and means for adjusting the tension of the endless rope.

4. In apparatus for towing skiers 'up an inclination, a support standard disposed at an elevated position relative to the inclination, a vertically arranged pulley attached to the said standard, a horizontally arranged shaft rotatably supported in a downward position relative to the inclination, a pair of vertically disposed drive pulleys fixed on the drive shaft at transversely spaced positions, a pair of inclined idler pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent the drive pulleys, an endless rope trained over the upper and lower pulleys and idler pulleys and arranged so that the upwardly moving towing reach will take-ofl from the top of one drive pulley while the return reach is trained to initially engage the bottom of the opposite drive pulley. and motor operated mechanism for rotating the said drive shaft.

5. In apparatus for towing skiers up an inclination, a support standard mounted at an elevated position relative to the inclination, a pulley connected with the said standard; a drive mechanism mounted at a downward position relative to the said support standard including a drive shaft mounted horizontally on a support, a pair of drive pulleys fixed on the drive shaft in spaced positions, a gear secured on the intermediate portion of the drive shaft, a pinion in mesh with the said gear, a propeller shaft secured to the pinion and operable by a source of power to rotate the drive pulleys; a pair of idler pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent the drive pulleys, and an endless rope trained over the upper, drive and idler pulleys in such manner that the opposite reaches of the rope will assume horizontally spaced positions.

6. In apparatus for towing skiers up an inclination, a support standard mounted at an elevated position relative to the inclination, a pulley connected with the said standard; a drive mechanism mounted at a downward position relative to the said support standard including a drive shaft mounted horizontally on a support, a pair of drive pulleys fixed on the drive shaft in spaced positions, a gear secured on the intermediate portion of the drive shaft, a pinion in mesh with the said gear, a propeller shaft integral with the pinion and operable by a source of power to rotate the drive pulleys; a pair of idler pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent the drivepulleys, and endless rope trained over the upper, drive and idler pulleys in such manner that the opposite reaches of the rope will assume horizontally spaced positions, and means for regulating the tension of the said endless rope.

MOISE PAQUETTE. 

